Man found guilty of murdering ex-girlfriend in Summerville | News

Joseph’s daughter told him he was not welcome and when he did not leave immediately, she called 911. He left, but two large bags he had brought with him were left on the sidewalk. Joseph and her daughter told police that Hannah was not expected or welcomed. Before leaving the house, the officers told them to leave the bags on the sidewalk.

Hannah sent multiple text messages to Joseph claiming he was at the Charleston airport, boarded a plane, took a connecting flight and landed in another state, according to an analysis of his phone records. Another text even suggested he had reached San Francisco.

But Hannah never left Summerville.

Officers found Hannah crouched in the shed of a nearby home for sale on September 4, 2021. He told them he was homeless and looking for a place to stay. The deputies allowed him to gather his things and leave.

The analysis of Joseph’s phone showed that Hannah called Joseph almost thirty times that day – from different numbers – before turning off her phone. He had also sent her several long text messages, his phone records showed.

Around 1:45 a.m. on September 5, another group of Berkeley County officers found Hannah walking along the side of the road. He again said he was homeless and just going for a walk.

None of the officers who encountered Hannah were the ones who responded to the home on September 2.

Twenty minutes before the attack, Hannah sent two long text messages to Joseph, asking her to tell him about a man who was allegedly harassing her and offering to help. Rochester said this was Hannah’s attempt to divert suspicion from himself.

Not long after Hannah was spotted by officers in Summerville, Joseph’s granddaughter was in the kitchen when she heard someone humming. Worried, she went to wake her brother, who waved her concerns away, she told the jury. She saw Hannah from her bedroom when he kicked in the back door.

The girl quickly locked the door and braced herself against the door. She felt every kick from Hannah through the door as he tried to kick it in. Her brother confronted Hannah, giving his sister time to escape through her bedroom window.